Prosecutors announce probe of Lincoln Park Zoo

The Cook County state's attorney's office is investigating the Lincoln Park Zoo after a spate of animal deaths there.

"We are investigating to determine if there was any criminal wrongdoing," Tom Stanton, a spokesman for the office, said Monday.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals asked in a letter sent Sunday to State's Atty. Richard Devine that he launch a criminal investigation into whether the zoo violated any state or local animal cruelty laws.

The investigation comes amid growing concerns about the zoo after two elephants, two gorillas, a camel and three endangered langur monkeys died at the Chicago zoo in recent months and an elephant died shortly after it was moved from Lincoln Park Zoo to another zoo in Utah.